Safety attachment for elevator-shafts.



I. WI BIROSH. SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR ELEVATOR SHAFTS. APPLICATION FILED sEPT. 7, IsIs.

l ,l 85, 1 66. Patented May 30, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Efe-gf Zvw/@0247 I.W.`BIROSH. SAFETY ATTACHMENT FUR ELEVATOR SHAFTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7. I9I5.

Patented May 30, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTH. JU,

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Biroh/ ATTORNEY THE COLUMBIA PLANCIGAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

ATENT oFFron.

JOI-IN W. BIROSH, 0F ULEDI, PENNSYLVA`NIA.

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR ELEVATOR-SHAFTS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3o, 1916.

Application filed September 7, 1915. Serial No. 49,171.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN W. BIRosH, al

This invention relates to safety attach' ments for elevator shafts and has for its object to provide means, in a mannery as hereinafter set forth, arranged within the shaft near the vmouth. thereof and normally in closed position to arrest the descent of obf jects falling down the shaft, as well as der fleeting the same into a safety pocket or shelter hole, thereby preventing such object from injuring a person at the bottom of the shaft.

A further object of the invention is to'` provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a pair of safety gates extending across and normally in position to close a shaft for the purpose of arresting objects falling down the shaft, and further having associ ated with said gates means operated by the elevator, during the travel thereof, to open the gates to permit passage of the elevator.`

The gates close by gravity after the elevator is passed.` j l Further objects of the invention are to provide a safety attachment for elevator shafts which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, efficient in its use, conveniently operated on the passage of the elevator to enable the passage thereof, readily set up, and comparatively inexpensive. t

W'ith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novell construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be. resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like ,reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the severalviews:,-'Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing the adaptation with an elevator shaft Iof a safety attachment in accordance with this invention, the attachment being in closed position land further illustrating in dotted lines the elevator cage or hoist at a position above and below the attachment. Fig, 2 is a vertical sectional view of the attachment, the latter being closed. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the attachment in closed position. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan, broken away, of a modified form.

Referring to the drawings in detail 1 denotes an elevator shaft provided at opposing sides, near the mouth thereof, with shelter holes or pockets 3 and which are employed for collecting objects falling down the shaft deflected by the safety attachment.

Arranged within the shaft 1, near the mouth thereof, preferably ten or fifteen feet below the mouth, and which is built within the walls of the shaft 1, is a supporting frame consisting of vertically disposed bars 4, 5, the bars 4 are arranged in pairs as well as the bars 5. The bars 4 are secured to'- gether and maintained in spaced relation by horizontally disposed bars 6, 7, and 8, arranged equi-distant. The bars 5 are connected together and maintained in spaced relation by horizontally disposed bars 9, 10 and 11 arranged equi-distant. The bars 6, 7 and 8 are positioned in parallelism with respect to the bars 9, 10 and 11. j One of the bars 4 is connected to one of the bars 5 `and the other bar 4'is connected to the other bar 5 by transversely extending bars 12, 13 and 14 arranged equi-distant. Y

Extending down through the supporting frame are the vertically disposed guide bars 15, and 16 for the elevator cage 17. The guide bars-15, 16 are arranged opposite each other and the inner side of the guide bar 16 is provided with a lengthwise extending groove 18 which is of greater length than the height of the supporting frame. The guide bar 16 has a ktransverse opening 19 which communicates with the groove 18 and which registers with the transverse opening 20 formed in the bar 10.

The reference character 22 denotes an actuating arm, which is slightly curved vas at 23, and the upper end of said arm is provided with `an enlarged openingorslot, through which extends a pivoted pin 21, the latter being positioned near the upper end of the groove 18.

The reference character 25 denotes an actuating member which is slightly curved as at 26,' and has its lower end provided.

with an enlarged opening or slot and through which extends a pivot 24, the latter 4being positioned near the lower end 18. The

lower end of the actuating member 22 is bifurcated .as at 27 and extending into lsaid bifurcated end 27 is the upper end of the actuating member 25 and the said upper end of the said member 25 is pivotally connected as at 28 to the bifurcated end 27 of the actuating member 22.

The actuating members 22, 25 normally project in the path of the elevator cage 17, and the said .actuating members are adapted to be engaged by a grooved roller 29, carried by a depending hanger 30, secured to the bottom of the cage 17, when the latter moves downward and the said members 22 are forced into the groove 18 and when moved to such position, cause the operation of a gate shifting mechanism to be presently referred to. Upon the upward movement of the cage 17, the .actuating member 25 is adapted to be engaged by the grooved roller 31 mounted in a bracket 32 secured to the top of the cage 17 and the action of the roller 31 will cause the moving of the members 22 and 25 into the groove 18, and under such conditions cause the operation of the gate shifting mechanism. rlhe hanger 36 should be of greater length than the bracket 32 so. that the gate shifting mechanism would be operated to open the gates to enable the passage of the elevator cage 17 when the latter moves downward.

Hinged as at33 to the bars 13 are a pair l of oppositely disposed gates 34, 35, which member 22. The rod 36 normally projects from the bar 10 and carries on its outer end a cross head 39 and to the ends of the latter are attached pulling members 40, 41, the former passes over a pulley 42 carried by a bracket 43 which is secured to the bar 10 and the member 41 passes over a pulley 44, carried by a bracket 45 secured to the bar 10.

The reference character 46 denotes a depending lever arm which has its upper end loosely mounted upon the pivot of the hinge 33 of the gate 34 and secured to the lower end of said lever arm 46 is the outer end of the flexible member 41, as indicated at 47. The reference character 48 denotes a "depending lever arm which has its upper end loosely mounted upon the pivot of the hinge 33 for the gate 35 and the lower end of said lever arm secured as at 49 to the outer end of the flexible member 40. The lever arms 47 and 48 normally extend at an outward inclination and at opposite directions with respect to each other. Pivotally connected as at 50 to the lever arm 46 interA mediate its ends, is an inwardly extending link 51 and pivotally connected to the lever .arm 48, intermediate its ends, as at 52, is an inwardly extending link 53. Connected at its upper end to a lateral pin 54, which is carried by one end of the gate 34, is the upper end of a depending elevating arm 55. The lower end of the arm 55 is pivotally connectedl as at 56 to the inner end 0f the link 51. Carried by one end of the gate 35 is a lateral pin 57, which has the upper end of an elevating arm 58 connected thereto. The lower end of the arm 58 is pivotally connected as at 59 to the inner end of the link 53. i

From the foregoing arrangement and construction off gate shifting mechanism, it is obvious that when the actuating members 22, 25 are shifted in the groove 18, the rod 36 is moved therewith and the direction of movement is outward with respect to the guide bar 16, under such conditions the ends of the flexible members 40, 41 which are connected tothe cross head 49, will be carried outward .and the lever arms 46, 48 will be swung inwardly, carrying the links 51, 53 therewith, causing the inner ends of the said links to move toward the gates 34, 35, and such movement of the links 51, 53 will carry the elevating arms 55, 58 therewith, thereby swinging the gates 34, 35 open in opposite directions with respect to each other, under such conditions permitting of the passage of the cage 17 whether the latter is being lowered or elevated in the shaft 1. After the roller 29, or the roller 31, has cleared the members 22, 25, the gates 34, 35 will swing by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 2. The weight of the gates 34, 35, is such as to overcome the weight of the gate actuating mechanism whereby there will be nothing to prevent the gates from swinging to the position shown in Fig. 2. Complete closing movement of the gates 34, 35 will be prevented by the guide bars 13. I

ln the modified form shown in Fig. 4, the shifting mechanism for the gates is of the same construction as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but if positioned differently the shifting mechanism is referred to by thel reference character 60, contains the same elements .as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but the mechanism is interposed between the gates and bar 10 and also upon the latter. rlhe gates which are indicated at 61 extend upon the top of the bars 13.

l. A safety attachment for elevator shafts comprising a supporting means adapted to be arranged within a shaft below the mouth thereof, a pair of normally closed gates hinged to said means, a gate shifting mechanism supported by said means and connected to said gates and including an'operating rod, and a pair of actuating members pivotally connected together and to said rod and normally positioned in the path of an elevator cage to be engaged to shift the latter whereby said operating rod will be moved to operate said shifting mechanism thereby opening the gates to permit of the passage of the elevator cage.

2. A safety attachment for elevator shafts comprising a supporting means adapted to be arranged within a shaft below the mouth thereof, a pair of normally closed gates hinged to said means, a gate shifting mechanism supported by said means and connected to said gates and including an operating rod, and a pair of actuating members pivotally connected together and to said rod and normally positioned in the path of an elevator cage to be engaged and shift the latter whereby said operating rod will be moved to operate said mechanism thereby opening the gates to permit of passage of said elevator cage, said gates being arranged to move to closed position by gravity after the passage of the cage.

3. A safety attachment for elevator shafts comprising a supporting means adapted to be arranged within a shaft below the mouth thereof, a pair of normally closed gates hinged to said means, a gate shifting mechanism supported by said means and connected to said gates and including an operating rod, and a pair of actuating members pivotally connected together and to said rod i and normally positioned in the path of an elevator cage to be engaged and shifted by the latter whereby said operating rod will be moved to operate said shifting mechanism thereby opening the gates to permit of the passage of the elevator cage, said gates normally inclining downwardly and in opposite direction with respect to each other.

4f. A safety-attachment for elevator shafts comprising a supporting means adapted to be arranged within a shaft below the mouth thereof, a pair of normally closed gates hinged to said means, a gate shifting mechanism supported by said means and connected to said gates and including an operating rod, and a pair of actuating members pivotally connected together and to said rod and normally positioned in the path of an elevator cage to be engaged and shifted by the latter whereby said operating rod will be moved to operate said mechanism thereby opening the gates to permit of passage of said elevator cage, said gates being arranged to move to closed position by gravity after the passage of the cage, said gates normally inclined downward and in opposite direction with respect to each other and providing means for deflecting a falling object when striking a gate.

5. A safety attachment for elevator shafts comprising a supportingmeans adapted to be arranged within a shaft below the mouth thereof, a pair of normally closed gates hinged to said means, a gate shifting mechanism supported by said means and connected to said gates and including an operating rod, and a pair of actuating members pivotally connected together and to said rod and normally positioned in the path of an elevator cage to be engaged and shifted by the latter whereby said operating rod will be moved to operate said shifting mechanism thereby opening the gates to permit of thepassage of the elevator cage, said gates normally incliningv downwardly and in opposite direction with respect to each other, combined with an elevator shaft having opposite walls provided with safety pockets for the reception of the object deflected by the gate.

6. A safety attachment for elevator shafts comprising a supporting means adapted to be arranged Within a shaft below the mouth thereof, a pair of normally closed gates hinged to said means, a gate shifting mechanism supported by said means and connected to said gates and including an operating rod, and a pair of actuating members pivotally connected togetherV and to said rod and normally positioned in the path of an elevator cage to be engaged and shifted byl the latter whereby said operating rod will be moved to operate said mechanism thereby opening the gates to permit of passage of said elevator cage, said gates being arranged to move to closed position by gravity after the passage of the cage, said gates normally inclined downward and in opposite direction with respect to each other and providing means for deflecting a falling object when striking a gate, combined with an elevator shaft having opposite walls provided with safety pockets` for the reception ofthe object deflectedl by a Gate.

a In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

" JOHN w. Binosn.

Witnesses:

CHAs. H. HARrsoN, i WM. Gr. SHARPNACK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing vthe Commissioner of Patents, Wlshington, D. C. 1 

